Changelings are an alien race from the Star Trek universe. They are called Changelings because of their ability to shape-shift. The Changelings were introduced in the Star Trek spin-off Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Constable Odo, one of the regular characters on that show, is a Changeling. Image File history File links Female_Changeling. ... Salome Jens (born May 8, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an actress best-known for portraying the Female Shapeshifter on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... The Female Shapeshifter is a fictional character in the Star Trek: DS9 universe, one of a race of shapeshifting aliens. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Odo is a shapeshifter played by Rene Auberjonois on the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

Their natural state is a liquid protoplasm. The Female Changeling once told Odo that their race once had bodies similar to those of other species, but they had since evolved beyond those physical bodies. Changelings have the ability to meld together (in a process known as "linking") to share information and emotions in a very intimate manner. The Changeling homeworld is covered in a sea of Changelings known as the Great Link. In biology, protoplasm is the living substance inside the cell. ... The Female Shapeshifter is a fictional character in the Star Trek: DS9 universe, one of a race of shapeshifting aliens. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Great Link is the natural state of Changelings on their home planet. ...

Shapeshifting

Changelings can turn themselves into almost anything. They can form themselves into any solid, liquid, gas, or even chemical reactions like fire, and can flow through any gap in their gaseous or liquid state. It is speculated that their power involves sending matter and energy to (and recruiting it from) subspace, as they have often demonstrated the ability to alter their apparent mass. (For instance, when Odo assumes the form of an object much smaller than he is, his temperature does not increase as it would if he were simply compressing his volume, and he can become light enough for an ordinary person to carry without trouble.) When they assume a different shape, such as a rock, scanners will show them as that substance. Changelings who have sufficiently disciplined their shapeshifting abilities are able to turn themselves into convincing imitations of lifeforms, including both animals and other humanoids. Changelings can even survive in the vacuum of space, and can somehow propel themselves through it, presumably at speeds great enough to effect interstellar travel. However, if a part of a changeling is separated from the whole, it reverts to the liquid state. In addition, some inexperienced Changelings (such as Odo) must regenerate, returning to their liquid form once every sixteen to eighteen hours. The Cardassians developed a device which, by emitting a quantum stasis field, can prevent a changeling from reverting to the liquid form, a state which Odo swiftly found extremely painful. For other uses, see Solid (disambiguation). ... A liquid will usually assume the shape of its container A liquid is one of the main states of matter. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A forest fire Fire is a rapid oxidation process that creates light, heat, and smoke, and varies in intensity. ... Screenshot (from SSCX Star Warzone). ... The term humanoid refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a human. ... Look up Vacuum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Damar of the Cardassian Union, prior to launching a revolution against the Dominion. ...

The Founders

The Changelings are native to the Gamma Quadrant. All but one hundred of the Changelings are Founders, the rulers of the Dominion (Odo is one of The Hundred). For many years, the Founders were considered mythical by many of the races in the Dominion, although their policy was enforced by the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar. It was not until 2371, when Odo discovered the changelings' homeworld in the Omarion Nebula, that the Founders' true status was revealed. They seek power because they were once persecuted by non-shape-shifters, whom they call "Solids." After the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole and the rise of the Dominion as a threat, the covert Federation Security organization Section 31 created a viral disease that slowly robbed the Changelings of their ability to shapeshift and deteriorated their bodies before killing them, with which they secretly infected Odo during the show's fourth season. This was later revealed during the show's nine-episode finale arc, when the Federation and Dominion were at war. Because Odo had linked with the Female Founder with whom he was familiar numerous times, this meant that the entire Great Link was infected as well. Deep Space Nine Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julian Bashir managed to find the cure for the disease, curing Odo. Odo himself agreed to pass on the cure to the Female Founder and then the Great Link in exchange for the Female Founder's surrender of the Dominion and herself to the Federation. After the Female Founder accepted this deal, and the war was over, Odo returned to the Founder Homeworld to do as he said he would. The quadrant arrangement of the Star Trek Galaxy. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ... Weyoun, a high-ranking Vorta. ... Ikatika, a JemHadar soldier in 2373 In the fictional Star Trek universe, the JemHadar are the shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. ... The 24th century (Gregorian Calendar) comprises the years 2301-2400. ... Odo is a shapeshifter played by Rene Auberjonois on the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... The Omarion Nebula is an interstellar dust cloud located in the Gamma Quadrant in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... For other uses, see Wormhole (disambiguation). ... Section 31 is the unofficial designation of a rogue and officially nonexistent intelligence and defense organization resembling secret police or a black-ops organization in the Star Trek fictional universe. ...

Trivia

The only Star Trek Original Series reference to the Changelings was a story that James T. Kirk told during the episode "The Changeling". In the story Kirk speaks of a changeling, able to assume human form, which was left in the place of a human baby. This is clearly a reference to the European folk myth of changelings. While not directly connected to the Changelings of Deep Space Nine, modern day fans have wondered if Kirk's story was in some way related to "the Hundred", who were Changelings sent out by the Founders to learn about the galaxy. The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... James Tiberius Kirk (2233 - 2293/2371), played by William Shatner, is the leading character in the original Star Trek television series and the films based on it. ... The Changeling is a season two episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first broadcast on September 29, 1967 and repeated May 17, 1968. ... The term baby can refer to: an infant a very early computer—the Small-Scale Experimental Machine, nicknamed Baby a musician – Brian Williams – who performs under the name Baby. ... Trolls with the changeling they have raised, John Bauer, 1913. ... The Hundred are a group of 100 Changelings from the Star Trek universe, seen primarily in the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

Also there is speculation about the shapeshifter Martia in Star Trek The Undiscovered Country being one of the Hundred. However, she referred to her species as "Chameloid." Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Paramount Pictures, 1991; see also 1991 in film) is the sixth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ...

There is some speculation among fans that the Changelings are descendants of the Ancient humanoids species that seeded planets across the galaxy with humanoid DNA 4 billion years ago, as seen in the Next Generation episode "The Chase". This is in part due to Salome Jens playing the role of the Progenitor and the Founder leader. They also have a striking visual similarity, both containing very smooth and unmarked skin. This may be because Changelings are poor at imitating faces, but the similarity is clear. Ancient humanoids were a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe that were one of the universes oldest sentient species. ... The Chase is the 146th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Salome Jens (born May 8, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an actress best-known for portraying the Female Shapeshifter on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

External links

• Changeling article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki